I was trying to compile a Christmas wish list to give to my parents, and realized that I really have the majority of the stuff that I want. Although of course I could come up with more things, I would rather have money donated in my name to some charity to help people who need it more than I do.
Now, here’s the problem: Which one do I choose? Do any dopers have any suggestions? I’d like to stick to something fairly nondenominational if possible, please. Thank you!
May be a little too regional specific, but I love the nonprofit organization my boyfriend works for: Hopelink. They provide assistance for families in crisis east of Seattle. They have a foodbank, they provide job skill assistance and emergency housing. They rock.
My favorites are Habitat for Humanity and Heifer International. As I understand it, both have Christian leanings, but I thought I’d put them out there anyway.
I’m in no way a Christian, yet I have no problem giving these organizations my money.
Charity Navigator ranks charities based on how well they utilize their funds. I personally don’t donate a dime to organizations that rank below a 3 on that site.
Good ones to avoid may be United Way (they’ve had more than one scandal in which high officers were misappropriating funds for their own use), and my own pick for worst charity, the American Red Cross. After disasterous fires in San Diego county a couple of years back they refused help to a family who had lost their home because the RC said they had too much money to qualify, then the RC used pictures of that family in its advertising to raise funds. Some time back now the Red Cross supplied blood untested for AIDS because their bean counters told them it was cheaper to pay off an occasional wrongful death lawsuit than it was to test the blood. After that cynical display I dropped the Red Cross once and for all. I still donate blood, but only to a hospital not associated with the Red Cross.
I am not a Christian, but I have no problem donating to the Salvation Army. I believe they do a lot of good work without foisting their religious beliefs on anyone who doesn’t want it. I would also reccomend the Cedars Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Clinic in Los Angeles. They cared for my mother when she had cancer, even though she was a Medicare patient. No doubt there are many more worthy charities.
I meant to say many other worthy charities, not that there were many that were more worthy. I reread that post twice and still didn’t see that little ambiguity until I submitted it.
This one that I know does a lot of good work for servicemembers in the military: The Navy Marine Corp Relief Society. My first experience with them was in boot camp when they helped one of the guys in my company get home in time for his mother’s funeral. The offer grants and no interest loans to service members and families of service members when problems strike. I’m not putting down any other charity, just saying this is one I happen to like.
(Oh, btw, they’ve got a four star rating on the Charity Navigator site that Missippiene mentioned.)
I volunteer for the Women’s Prison Book Project. We send three books at a time to incarcerated women who write requesting specific books or types of books.
http://www.prisonactivist.org/wpbp/
It’s a really great charity, and I can’t tell you how fulfilling it is to share books that I’ve read with women who are interested in reading, and we provide health information and other resource information. Plus, we’re non-profit in the sense that everyone who works is a volunteer, and every penny donated goes into providing books and covering the cost of postage.
If nothing else, I know everyone’s got a ton of books lying around. Any donations are great!
ZJ
Mississippienne, thanks for that link! I will be more carefully considering where I spend my charity dollars from now on.
I donate my time and money to Big Brothers/Big Sisters. You can see their outstanding Charity Navigator score here. According to that site, 93.4% of their budget is spent on programs and services.
I was a Big Sister for 5 years to a young boy. I think their organization does something so simple and basic, yet so important. I’ve seen them change individual lives and I think by changing lives, they’re changing communities and the future.
Another vote for Heifer International.
You can’t go wrong with the Salvation Army, either.
And yet endorsement for Heifer International.
FWIW, I’ve opted increasingly for local and grassroots. There are good, worthy, responsible charities out there, but unfortunately fundraising has become an industy in itself. That doesn’t make it wrong, mind, just a factor to consider when choosing how to give.
Check out where you live, monica. Betcha a few phone calls will identify dire needs right next door that can be mitigated with minimal effort. I discovered several shelters–battered spouses, uninursed loss cases, etc.–where contributions of nothing little things mattered immensely: motel bottles of shampoo and soap (sorry, Miss Manners!), gently used blankets, clothes, whatever, coupon buys on bulk items, food stuffs…you name it. Just the random stuff most of us cuss as junk can make a world of difference to somebody teetering on the edge. Consider it, clean it and pass it along. My workplace staff room has a big collection box for buy-1-get-1-free deals and assorted items, all of which get passed along to folks in need throughout the year.
I’ve also become a devotee of seeking out genuine cases of folks fallen on hard times, despite their best efforts, for anonymous contributions. (If I were a nicer person it’d stretch to chronic hard cases, but I’m increasingly cynical that way, damnnit.) A solid cash infusion–as solid as I can make it–is the proverbial gift to the future, to be passed along in turn.*
Veb
The Shrine Hospitals for Crippled Children
Eighteen hospitals across North America., some specializing in orthopedic care, others in burn injuries. Each one complete in every way. (But each and every one lacks a billing department as there is never a charge for any service.)
No needs test for free treatment. No religious test. No questions about nationality, race or relationship to a Mason. Free transport to a hospital for treatment and evaluation.
Call them at 1-800-237-5055 
Muscular Dystrophy Why? Because my family has been decimated by this horrid disease.
Cystic Fibrosis Why because one of my childhood friends’ identical twin daughters are afflicted with this horrid disease.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital gets a lot of attention around here this time of year (radio station holds a weekend radio-thon for them).
And, of course, a Heifer International endorsement.
I used to work for one of those major charities listed.
If you really want to make a difference, DON’T donate to them.
Tell your parents to send you the money.
Call your local homeless shelter, meals-on-wheels, women’s shelter, AIDS hospice, Salvation Army, etc. and ask what they need. Blankets, cans of food, toothpaste…whatever.
Then go to your nearest Costco, Sam’s Club or whatever. Buy a lot.
Take all of it to that location. Deliver it.
Then you know for sure your $$ have really done good and not paid for a CEO’s trip to Hawaii to meet with a donor to play golf.
Plus, you get to see the actual good you have done and my guess is, you will be one of their pals for life.
Easing the pain of HIV in Africa. Good stuff.
Aside from that, the local food bank. There are too many poor, working, hungry families to ignore.
Horrid it is 
I knew someone who died waiting for a lung transplant.
I get mad just thinking about it.
Along those lines, if you’d like to make it Christmas related, since it’s supposed to substitute for a Christmas present for you, you might consider having them buy some toys and give them to the Marine Corps Toys For Tots drive.